Adam McQuaid: ‘I feel like I’m pretty close’

The Bruins expect Adam McQuaid to be ready to go for the season-opener as he recovers from blood clot surgery, and the physical blueliner said after Sunday’s practice that he is still continuing to improve as he gets his strength back.

“I feel like I’m pretty close,” McQuaid said. “It’s a different situation, right? But I still feel like every day is honestly getting better and it’s coming pretty quick. We have a little bit of time here, and hopefully another week or so will go a long ways and we’ll see from there. I’d love more than anything to be able to play, but we’ll see.

“I feel like I’m moving pretty good,” he added. “Obviously the strength side of it will just be something I’ll continue to work on, just upper-body strength, but again, that’s something that can come pretty quick.”

McQuaid got surgery in October for a blood clot under his collarbone after his right arm swelled considerably. Though he was locked out at that point due to CBA negations between the NHL and NHLPA, McQuaid was still able to consult Bruins’ doctors on his own without bending rules.

“The physical signs were there. My arm got really swollen, and there was no denying that something was going on, so it was a no-brainer to go get checked out,” he explained. “When I kind of had an idea of what was going on, I got in contact with some of the team doctors just on my own, on behalf of myself. Luckily enough, they worked with me just on a personal level and not with the team. I was pretty fortunate to have those guys watching over everything that was going on.”

As for Peter Chiarelli‘s declaration that McQuaid will play next Saturday against the Rangers, McQuaid said he hopes his general manager is right. After all, McQuaid was in Providence for the 2010 opener and was sick when the B’s opened against the Flyers last season.

“I’m hoping [I can play],” he said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to start a season opener with this team, so I’m hoping that this is going to be the year.”